Health services administration

Child health inequities remain a persistent challenge, with well-described long-term consequences. Advances in cross-sector administrative data linkage and causal inference methods offer powerful opportunities to transform data into evidence for addressing inequities. This article explores how linked administrative data support timely, precise, agile and coordinated policy responses and monitor their impact. We outline conditions needed to realise this potential, including sustained cross-sector data infrastructure, analytic capability and increased efforts to translate evidence into action. We argue linked administrative data can inform pathways to more equitable child health and, with investment, help deliver on lasting returns for children, families and society.

Sarah Gray, Shuaijun Guo, Meredith O'Connor, Elodie O'Connor, Katrina Williams, Hannah Badland, Susan Woolfenden, Josie Dickerson, Gerry Redmond, Marnie Downes, Sharon R. Goldfeld

There is consistent evidence of who is more likely to practise in a rural location; however, current selection criteria used by most specialty colleges do not reflect this. In fact, our evidence-based perspective article shows how specialty selection is likely driving many rural interested graduates away from rural pathways, perhaps never to return post-fellowship. The Australian Government has strongly invested in rural training, with greatly increased opportunities for end-to-end pathways and raised awareness of social accountability of training programs. However, specialty training pathways have been slow to change the selection criteria, which should align with supporting workforce diversity and distribution into rural areas. We highlight potentially untapped opportunities to directly address workforce distribution that require negligible financial costs to change criteria and processes.

Matthew R. McGrail, Jenny May AM, Katherine Logan

By quantifying the impact of geographical disparities in cancer survival, these findings highlight the need for evidence-based interventions to improve cancer survival across Australia

Charlotte K Bainomugisa · Jessica Cameron · Paramita Dasgupta · Peter Baade

People experiencing homelessness should be prioritised in national cancer plans and policies to promote equitable access to cancer care and the health care system more broadly

Amy Stearn · Jennifer A Baldock · Julia N Morris · Joanne Flavel · Fran Baum

The continued rise in specialists’ fees and out-of-pocket cost is causing significant financial and access challenges for patients

Brendan Murphy

Journalism and independent media are important for supporting public health through contributing to a healthy information environment, fostering dialogue and respect for rights, making governments more transparent and accountable, and societies more informed, inclusive and sustainable

Bronwyn Fredericks · Neha Lalchandani · Melissa A Sweet · Alex Cramb · Carmel Williams

Research into the implementation of the guidelines on concussion and persisting post-concussion in the context of the differing Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand geographical areas will be important to ensure adequate uptake

Karen M Barlow · Jennie L Ponsford · Alice Theodom · Gill Cowen · Gavin A Davis · Vicki Anderson · Franz E Babl · David Cole · Jennifer Cullen · Stuart R Dalziel · Melinda Fitzgerald · Howard Flavell · Caroline Yates · Rebecca Kimble · John H Olver · Rhonda Orr · Mark Ralfe · Michael Rose · Nick Rushworth · Julia Treleaven · Gary Browne · Nathan Delang · Sarah Harris · Gary Mitchell · Sean Tweedy

The promise of equity will be realised not through rhetoric, but through bold, deliberate and sustained action

Pasi Sahlberg · Trevor Cobbold

Redefining success in education to include recognition of broader learning — shaped by learners and their contexts — can enhance engagement, improve outcomes, disrupt disadvantage, and support more equitable systems that promote wellbeing and lifelong learning

Charlie Connell‐Tobin · Linh Dang · Mietta Symmons‐Joyce · Annette C Cairnduff · Andrew PR Kellett · Lauren Langley · Philippa Collin

Shared decision making is widely recognised in Australian health care policy but remains inconsistently implemented in practice. We highlight the Australian context, with international examples and suggested strategies to progress its implementation

For the Australian Shared Decision Making Research Network

Davide R Tomassoni · Iftah Amith

Aaron E Boyce · Tony Caccetta · Jo‐Ann See · Rosemary L Nixon AM

Deshan Sebaratnam · Jessie T Lu · Helen Y Sun

Examination of an Australian government scheme to fund health and medical research targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Heather McCormack · Troy Combo · Bridget G Haire